About this Research Topic
In the continuous search for improved synthetic pathways by researchers, a vast array of activation methods have thus been developed, with chemical catalysis being one the most popular. In recent years, the emphasis has been given to unconventional physical activation agents such as high pressure, microwaves, ultrasounds, hydrodynamic cavitation, mechanochemistry, photocatalytic, and supercritical fluids. Unconventional activation techniques appear to offer important possibilities in comparison with chemical synthesis, particularly when focusing on environmentally friendly synthetic methods such as fast reaction rates, activation at low temperatures, and improved miscibility. New research aims to elucidate new opportunities provided by physical or chemical effects of unconventional activation techniques in different areas of green chemistry, such as catalysis and their applications in organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, degradation of compounds, and biomass valorization.
This Research Topic aims at showing that unconventional activation techniques are promising alternatives to classical activation phenomenon in catalytic applications, and also has an important role to play in the development of sustainable, green, and eco-efficient processes, and to promote innovation production methodologies.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Reviews and Mini-Reviews related, but not restricted, to the following research areas:
• Unconventional activation applications (ball-milling, microwave, ultrasound, photocatalysis, etc) with a green chemistry approach
• Advances of unconventional activation techniques in biomass valorization, via heterogeneous or homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis, either experimentally or computationally (theoretically)
• Developments of scale-up, energy consumption and design of equipment related to unconventional activation techniques
• The use of continuous flow reactors, looking forward to possible industrial applications
• New combinations of power ultrasound with ionic liquids, microwave irradiation, biomimetic and enzymatic catalysis, and electrochemistry
Particular interest is in the above research when demonstrating the 12 principles of green chemistry (i.e., : (i) prevention, (ii) better use of the raw material, (iii) better waste management, (iv) energy savings, and (v) use of solvent compatible with the environment, and (vi) process intensification).
Keywords: Green Chemistry, Microwaves, Ultrasound, Mechanochemistry, Continuous flow reactors, Eco-efficient, Biomass Valorization, Hydrodynamic cavitation, Catalysis, Activation, Unconventional activation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
